What you probably already know: Are you turning to social media influencers for health care information? Or do you prefer using one of the many health-related chatbots now flooding the market, including many specifically aimed at women? In a wide-ranging “State of Her Health 2026” survey, women’s health organization Teal Health says 41% of women now rely on social media influencers for tips while 27% use AI platforms. The so-called “time tax” has also become a burden, with 75% saying they’re likely to skip a health care visit entirely. Almost one-in-three say a primary care or OB-GYN appointment takes more than three hours from start to finish.
Why it matters: One unnamed patient notes that getting appointments, even for regular preventive care, can take months. “When women feel dismissed or rushed, that’s not a failure of caring, “says Liz Swenson, M.D., OB-GYN, and medical director at Teal Health, a San Francisco-based company whose primary mission is to increase cervical cancer screenings. “It’s a failure of the system we’re all working within. We owe women better.” The ramifications are significant, as fewer than four in 10 women understand which preventive screenings they should be getting. Only 64% start breast cancer screening at age 40 (the recommended guideline), while just 43% begin cervical cancer screening at age 25. Even fewer get colonoscopies starting at age 45.
What it means: Caregiving responsibilities, especially, tend to get in the way of self-care. One recent report found that about 63 million Americans provide ongoing care to adults or children with a medical condition or disability, a “dramatic” 45% increase over the past 10 years. A staggering 81% of women say they’ve prioritized loved ones’ needs over their own health care, while six in 10 say caregiving and job responsibilities have forced them to reschedule or skip appointments altogether. Women need “the logistical burdens taken off their plates,” with a majority citing the need for more timely text and email reminders as well as flexible appointment scheduling.
What happens next: While telehealth carries enormous promise as a timesaver — 72% have used it in the past — women say it hasn’t evolved to meet their needs, often falling short of personalized support. Women still say they trust medical providers more than influencers or chatbots, but simply often have nowhere else to turn because of time constraints. “When accurate at-home options are paired with supportive telehealth and digital tools, they can offer genuine access to care that leads to better outcomes,” Swenson says. “Aligning providers, employers, and insurers around these solutions helps ensure care is not only available, but practical, trusted and designed to fit into women’s everyday lives.”
